Star Gauged

[ARCHER 9505]

Were any Garand Barrels Star Gauged?

Information

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[TerryS]

I have heard not, but many years ago when I was a member of the 5th Army rifle team (second string), I swear that star guage marks on the muzzle were pointed out to us. At the time I knew nothing about the M1 except to put the pointy end in first. And got to shoot all I wanted.

[Dave21]

This is the NM barrel on my Garand it is an 8-56 SA barrel. I believe the star behind the NM means star gauged.

[JimF in CT]

Not in the normal sense of the word.

By the time of the M1's production, the air gage had replaced the mechanical "star" gage. --Jim

[da gimp]

Dick Culver said that some Marine armorers supplemented their income by putting stars on barrels if I remember correctly. And if the star made a guy believe in his rifle's accuracy more, even better.

The only rifles I ever heard of that the US Springfield Armoury star gauged were NM 1903's.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I'd like to hear from Rick, ShooterM1, or Scott Duff on providenced M1's with star gauged barrels FROM Springfield & not add on stars.

da gimp

OFC , Mo. Chapter

[goo]

"The front left side of the exposed section of the barrel is correctly stamped with the "NM" and Star proof indicating that the barrel was star gauged"

from this link,
...
http://rockislandauction.com/view_it...=41&iid=205462

[Jim K]

The only M1 rifle barrels that bear the star gauge mark are fakes.

The auction site is wrong.

Just FYI, the star gauge only measured the barrel inside diameter at one inch intervals. It did not determine that the measurements were absolutely uniform (I have seen star gauge cards showing considerable variations) or that the barrel would shoot if they were. A friend had an undoubtedly genuine star gauge M1903 that would barely hit the proverbial barn door.

Jim

[Joe W]

The following is from an article by Bob Seijas " The Type 2 National Match, Part 1", found in the GCA Journal:
" During 1957 the accuracy requirements of the NM rifle were toughened by increasing the test firing groups from 5 shots to 10 shots. Rifles subject to the new stricter test were marked with a STAR next to the NM inscription on the barrel between the rings of the gas cylinder. This requirement (the 10 shots) became standard, and the star marking was dropped in 1958. It may still be found on later M1s if the original barrel remained on the weapon when it was upgraded to a later configuration." So as you can see, this star marking had nothing to do with a "star gauge".

[Calif-Steve]

Mind you, "star guaged" barrels were standard issue '03 barrels that PASSED an inspection test. In the 1930's shooters could mail in their '03 to Springfield and pay a small fee for the test. The test process was very time consuming and the Army dropped the test during WWII and never re-started again. Many modern barrels made by top manufacturers today are far better barrels then anything produced by Springfield in the 1930's.